Tag: malicious QR codes

Ninety-one percent of American adults own a cell phone, and 56 percent own a smartphone as of May 2013, according to Pew Internet Project research. Compare that against the 43 percent who report using QR codes for discounts, 23 percent who use QR codes to purchase an item and 18 percent who report using QR codes to learn more about a brand, details the Chadwick Martin Bailey Consumer Report, and you have a major activity rife for exploitation. QR codes are increasingly common, but they leave opportunities for malicious software…

Editorial – Mobile commerce and security should go hand-in-hand Mobile technology has become an integral part of society. People around the world are using their smartphones and tablets to connect to one another in a dynamic way. These devices are also being used by people to connect with businesses, creating new ways to shop and purchase products. The advent of mobile technology has led to the emergence of mobile commerce. While mobile commerce has been met with favor from people the world over, it is not a paradise free from…

There are a number of fake Android games that are leading to Boxer variant infections. According to a recent report from researchers, a range of different fake game downloads in conjunction with strategically placed QR codes have been infecting Android device users with a variant of Boxer called Trojan.AndroidOS.Generic.A. That virus has been created to send text messages from infected devices to premium numbers. The researchers who conducted this study were from ThreatTrack Security Labs and were able to come across a website that was hosting artificial Android apps that…

Hackers use QR codes to access Glass Google’s ambitious augmented reality glasses have yet to be officially launched to the general public and they have already been hacked. Google’s Glass has managed to gain a great deal of support among tech-savvy consumers due to its innovative features and use of augmented reality. Glass allows people to literally see the world in a different way, utilizing cameras to capture visual information and augmented reality to enhance and change what users see. Despite the high-tech nature of Glass, it has been hacked…

Though the barcodes are a growing favorite of consumers and marketers, unethical hands have entered the mix. The little black and white squares that make up QR codes have become exceptionally popular among smartphone users and mobile marketers alike, but as with every commonly used tool that connects with the internet, unscrupulous individuals have now started to make their mark by making some scans harmful. The trend of attacks on PCs is gaining strength with mobile devices as their penetration increases. Malicious QR codes remain rare, but they do exist…

A single line of coding has been discovered that can wipe the devices back to factory settings. The latest mobile news has shaken some owners of Samsung smartphone devices, as they discover that activities as simple as visiting an mcommerce website, scanning QR codes, or using NFC transactions could be enough to wipe all of the saved data and settings from their devices. The tiny piece of coding is enough to return the phones back to their original status. The malicious coding has so far been reported as being able…

Mobile security often cast by the wayside by consumers On the surface, the world of mobile technology may seem benign. Many consumers view smart phones and other mobile devices as valuable tools that can keep them entertained and connected to the world at large. The mobile technology industry is, however, fraught with peril that many are at risk of being exposed to. This peril does not come in a physical form, which is partly why mobile security is often lacking amongst consumers, but could cause a significant amount of distress…

Unassuming codes could link to harmful content QR codes are one of the technologies that have taken the marketing industry by storm. The unassuming, black and white barcodes have begun popping up just about anywhere. Marketers have taken a keen interest in QR codes because of their ability to engage mobile consumers – those with smart phones and other mobile devices. While marketers have proven to be enamored by the mobile technology, consumers have been divided on their use, partly because of reports concerning malicious QR codes. QR codes are…

As QR codes grow in popularity with consumers, malicious codes are becoming much more common. These codes seem unassuming at first glance. Indeed, it is impossible to tell the difference between a legitimate QR code and one linked to harmful content with the naked eye. Even tech-savvy consumers have been having trouble discerning the true nature of some codes. The Websense ThreatSeeker Network, one of the world’s most advance web security networks from Websense Web Security, has found a number of new malicious QR codes that are being sent to…

As QR codes continue to grow more popular with consumers, they are also growing more popular with hackers. The codes have become a very lucrative malicious tool for hackers looking to exploit their popularity. More codes are beginning to appear containing malicious content that can put a smart phone user’s important information at risk. The content embedded in QR codes is impossible to tell until after the codes are scanned. There are, however, some measures smart phone users can take to protect themselves. QR codes can only be scanned using…

One of the first malicious QR codes has been found by Kaspersky, the acclaimed Internet security company. Until now, the prospect of malicious codes has been nothing more than a tentative concern, though many security companies has been warning of the time when QR codes would become devious anti-security tools. Security professionals had warned that malicious codes could be very effective due to the willingness of consumers to scan any codes they find. Kaspersky reported the finding on its SecureList blog. It was only a matter of time before someone…